Receptacle



May 1l, 1943 s. MYERsoN Erm. 2,318,618

REC'EPTACLE Filed May 15. 1940 Patented May 11, 1943 RECEPTACLE Simon Myerson and Martin Myerson, Brookline, and Irvin W. Evans, Newton, Mass. said Martin Myerson and said Evans assignors to said Simon Myerson Application May 15, 1940, Serial No. 335,370

(Cl. 206-8'3) Y Claims.

sition during transmission to the user, .and if desired for display purposes, although permitting ready removal of the teeth from the supporting card when desired.

In the copending application of SimonMyerson for Letters Patent Serial No. 313,077, led January 9, 1940, there is disclosed a novel and very desirable device designed to take the place of the usual flat card and having provision for displaying teeth in such a Way as much more closely to simulate the arrangement of natural teeth in the mouth than does the usual card. The improved device of said application comprises a' holder curved to simulate the curvature of the human gum-ridge and includes a gum-simulating part, and mea-ns operative removably' to hold 'a row of teeth, each tooth having its gingival end l "disposed within a cavity or groove containing `retaining wax, the gum-simulating portion of 'the holder partially surrounding the necks of the several teeth. For shipping and display purposes this holder is preferably secured to a stiff supporting base somewhat resembling the usual card on which teeth are ordinarily directly mounted.

While the improved device of the aforesaid application is highly desirable, the curved holder with its complement of teeth projects a substantial distance from the flat support or base on which it is mounted and is thus subject to injury in handling and shipment, unless a substantial degree of care be exercised.

Moreover, and this is equally true with respect to any form of tooth card or holder, whether flat or curved, the teeth mounted on this holder are exposed to the air and to handling and thus subject to contamination from dust, dirt and bacteria.

Furthermore, even though a black or dark colored base be employed for supporting the holder, the lighting effect to which the teeth are exposed is quite diilerent from that which obtains when teeth are actually arranged in the mouth, since, in the latter case, the teeth are viewed against the dark background of the conned oral cavity.

The present invention has for'an object the provision of means operative to protect teeth mounted on a shipping and display card `(whether directly on the card or in a holder carried by the card) both from mechanical injury and from contamination by dirt, dust, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container for teeth mounted upon a holder such, for example, as that disclosed in the aforesaid application, so devised that teeth arranged therein are viewed under lighting eiects somewhat similar to those existent ywhen the teeth are actually in the mouth.

A further object of the invention-is to provide a protective receptacle of simple form which may be employed merely for shipping teeth, together with a. shield device applicable to the receptacle when the teeth are to be displayed or viewed, and which assists in securing the desired lighting effect.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of attractive appearance which is suiciently rugged to aord the desired protection without being unduly heavy; which is simple, easy and cheap to construct; and which is externally smooth and sanitary.

Other and further objects and advantages ,of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter in the following vmore detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawing in l which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the receptacle or container having therein a holder carrying a row of teeth, a portion of the top of the receptacle being broken away, with parts in horizontal section;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the receptacle of Fig. 1, but empty, with a portion of its side Wall broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of thereceptacle of Fig. 1 but with a shield or cap applied thereto;

Fig. 4 isa, front elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 3, but empty; v y

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, tolarger scale,v substantially on' the line 5 5 yof Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base of the receptacle to which the tooth holder is normally secured;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the base, with a tooth holder mounted thereon, but with the cover removed; y y

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of tooth holder of desirable type; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view .of the shield shown Aas separated from the receptacle.

Referring to the drawing, the letter B (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6) designates the base of the receptacle, such base including a substantially horizontal platform portion I (Fig. 5), having the vertical side walls 2 and the substantially flat upper surface 3, the base also comprising the downwardly directed marginal supporting flange 4. In the upper surface of the platform there is provided an elongate recess, the floor 5 of which preferably slopes downwardly and forwardly. The platform has an elongate opening 6 (Fig. 6) in the forward part of the floor of the recess, and an aperture or socket 1, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The base B is here illustrated as of' substantially rectangular contour and is provided with a marginal rabbet or recessl 8, the vertical surface 2 of the platform constituting the inner wall of this recess or rabbet.

The platform I is designed to constitute a support for a tooth holder 9. This tooth holder may be an ordinary tooth card, but is here illustrated as of the kind moreful'ly disclosed in the aforesaid `copending application for Letters Patent. As shownu inv Figs. 7 and 8, this holder 9 consists of an integral moulded mass of material, for example hard rubber or a synthetic resin, shaped to provide the rear part IB and the forward or apron portion I I, said portions diverging downwardly from the upper part I2. The forward exposed surface I3 of the apron I IL is colored and contoured to simulate the human gum, while the space between the front and rear parts II and I0 is filled with a body III of wax which embraces and removably holds the gingival portions I5 of the teeth I8. From the rear part I0 projects an integral boss or lug I1 which may be furnished with an aperture I8 for engagement by a securing pin or the like.

This holder is curved or arched in order to simulate the curvature of the human gum-ridge, and when mounted upon the platform I of the base B its ends and 2I (Fig.` 7) are disposed within the recess 5 in the platform 3 with the lugv I'I (Fig. 5) projecting downwardly through the aperture 1, the lug being engaged by suitable retaining means, such as a pin I9. As thus arranged, the holder arches upwardly, as shown in Fig. '7, that is to say it projects substantially above the plane of the platform I.

The improved receptacle o-f the present invention also comprises the housing H (Figs. 1, 2 and 9). This housing may be made of a rigid transparent material, such as glass, but it is preferred to makeit of a somewhat flexible although stiff, non-shattering and shape-retaining transparent material, for example Celluloid or one of the transparent synthetic resins. Desirably, the entire housing is transparent, but if desired, only the top may be transparent. Preferably the Walls of this housing are quite thin to reduce its weight, and the dimensions of the housing are such` as. to provide withinit a chamber K (Fig. 5) of Sunicient dimensions to accommodate the arched toothV holder when the latter is mounted upon the base. This housing, as` illustrated (Figs. 1 and 2), comprises the left and right end walls 22 and 23, the rear wall 2tv and the forward wall 25 (said walls being substantially vertical) and the top wall 26. Preferably the housing consists of an integral piece of material properly moulded to shape, the top 26 being slightly convex upwardly and merging with the vertical walls at smoothly rounded corners. The lower edges of the vertical walls are preferably turned outwardly to form the finish flange 21. The dimensions of this housing are such that its lower edge portion may be seated within the rabbet 8 of the base, with the inner surfaces of its vertical walls snugly and frictionally engaging the vertical surfaces 2 of the base so as thereby normally to retain the housing in assembled relation with the base, thus providing the substantially air-tight chamber K for the accommodation of the holder 9 with its complement of teeth. The housing thus provides substantial protection for the teeth against mechanical injury and contamination from dust and dirt. Since the housing is transparent, the teeth are fully exposed to view without requiring that the housing be removed from the base, but when it is desired t'o remove the holder from the base the housing may readily be removed from the base by pulling the housing and base apart.

The elongate slot 6 in the platform I of the base is so arranged as to underlie the row of teeth I6 so that if the base with the holder mounted thereon be held against a source of light, the light will shine through the slot 6 and thus permit the teeth to be viewed against the light without removing them from the holder.

The receptacle as thus described, comprising only the base and the housing, isy highly useful not only for shipping teeth while keeping them well. protected, but also for display purposes. However, in order to exhibit the teeth in a way closely approximating the appearance of teeth within the human mouth, it is preferred to provide the receptacle with a third element, that is to say, the shield or cap C (Figs. 3, 5. and 9).. This cap may form a permanent part of the holder if desired,` although it is preferably removable. and

may constitute merely an accessory which will be supplied to the dentist or dental laboratory for application when desired to the shipping receptacle comprising only the base and housing.

This. cap C may be made of the same material as, the` housing H if desired, that is to say, a tough, transparent, organic material such as Celluloid or synthetic resin, and comprisesv the top 2,8 and the side walls 29, the latter terminating at their lower edges in a finish flange or bead 30. As. here illustrated the side walls 29 are of less. depth than the vertical walls of the housing, but arey of sufficient depth to provide a secure frictional engagement between the cap and the housing. However, the side walls 29 of the cap may be of substantially the same depth as the vertical walls of the housing if desired. In any case, the dimensions of the cap are such that it fits over the housing with a fairly snug fit, although permitting it to be slipped off at will.

The cap is shown as provided with an elongate Window 3I in its top 28, such window beingl so arranged as to overlie the row of teeth I6 mounted on the holder 9 within the chamber K. Except for this window or aperture 3l, the top 28, at least, of the cap is substantially opaque, being provided as here illustrated with an opaque coating 32 of any suitable character, for example sheetv material or a layer of paint or enamel. Preferably the aperture or window 3I has a distinctive border or margin 33 which is preferably colored red so that, the aperture 3| may have some slight semblance to the human mouth. Likewise, the remainder of the coating 32 may be pink or flesh color, and if desired, a. set of caps mayv be provided, each tinted to simulate. a different complexion, so that in matching teeth for a given patient, the dentist may select a cap correspondingA to the. color of the patients skin. While the opacity of the top of the cap is` here shown as resulting from the application of a surface coating or layer, it is to be understoodthat the top 28 of the cap itself may be inherently opaque, and it is further contemplated that the entire cap, except for the window 3l, may be made of opaque material. It is also contemplated that instead of a free opening the window 3| may consist of a transparent area of the cap material. When the cap C is applied to the top of the housing H, its opaque areas cut olf exterior light from the chamber K to such an extent that the chamber is considerably darkened, and if the surface 3 of the platform l be of a dark color, for example black, this darkening of the chamber by the employment of the cap C' causes the teeth, when viewed through the window 3 l, to approximate very closely in appearance the appearance of teeth in the human mouth,-the colored margin 33 bordering the opening 3| contributing to this appearance. By extending the opaque area of the cap downwardly along the sides of the cap, the darkening of the chamber K may be increased if desired, and if, as above suggested, the side walls of the cap extend down to the base, and if these side walls be opaque throughout, the chamber K may be made completely dark except for the light entering through the Window 3|.

This receptacle thus provides substantial protection for the arched holder during transit from the tooth manufacturer to the dental laboratory or dentist; it furnishes protection for the teeth while on the dentists shelves awaiting use, although permitting ready inspection without exposing them to the air, and when the teeth are the teeth would appear if actually in the mouth.

While a certain desirable embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed and illustrated, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all equivalent arrangements such as fall Within the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shipping and display receptacle for an arched holder having artificial teeth mounted thereon, said receptacle comprising a substantially rigid base, and a hollow housing of stiff, light weight shape-retaining material removably mounted on the base and cooperating with the latter to provide a substantially dust-proof chamber for the reception and protection of the holder with the teeth mounted thereon, a portion at least of the wall of the housing being transparent, the base being provided with holder-positioning means including a forwardly and downwardly sloping surface engageable with the end portions of the holder and operative so to position the holder relatively to the base that it arches upwardly and tilts forwardly so that the teeth on the holder are disposed at a desirable angle for observation through the transparent wall of the housing, and means including a releasable retaining element engageable with parts of the holder and base, respectively, and operative removably to attach the holder to the base whereby the receptacle may be moved or even inverted without displacing the holder relatively to the base.

2. A shipping and display receptacle for an arched holder having artificial teeth mounted thereon, said receptacle comprising a substantially rigid base and a hollow housing of stiff, shape-retaining material removably mounted on the base and cooperating with the latter to provide a chamber for the reception ofthe holder and the teeth mounted thereon, the upper wall at least of the housing comprising a transparent portion, the base having a holder-positioning recess in its upper surfacefor engagement with the ends of the holder so that the holder arches upwardly from the upper surface of the base with the teeth so located as to be observable through the transparent part of the top wall of the housing, and means operative removably to attach the holder, when so positioned, to the base. l

3. A shipping and display receptacle for an arched holder having artificial teeth mounted thereon, said receptacle comprising a substantially rigid, hollow base, and a hollow housing removably tting about the peripheral portion of the base, the upper-surface of the base comprising holder-positioning means engageable with the end portions of the holder thereby to retain the holder in upwardly arched position upon the base, the base also having an aperture therethrough to permit a portion of the holder to project -into the interior f the base, means within the base engageable with said projecting portion of the holder thereby removably to attach the holder to the base, a portion-at least of the upper wall of the housing being of transparent material thereby to permit inspection of the teeth carried by the holder.

' 4. A device for shipping and displaying artiflcial teeth mounted upon an arched holder, said device comprising a substantially rigid base having a peripheral recess,and a removable hollow housing of thin, shape-retaining material so shaped and dimensioned that its lower edge portion lits snugly within the peripheral recess of the base, said housing, together with the base, defining a chamber for the reception of the holder. and attaching means operative removably to attach the holder to the base, the base and attaching means being so designed and arranged as rigidly to secure the holder to the base with the ends of the holder engaging the base and with the holder arched upwardly, the housing havingva window through which the teeth carried by the holder may be observed and the base hav-'- ing an elongate opening therein so located as to underlie the row of teeth carried by the holder to permit the teeth to-be observed against light which enters through said elongate opening.

5. A device for shipping and displaying articial teeth mounted upon an arched holder, said device comprising a substantially rigid hollow base having a platform portion provided with an aperture through which a portion of the holder projects downwardly below the platform, a releasable retaining element disposed below the platform and engageable with said downwardly projecting portion of the holder thereby removably to attach the holder to the base, and a removable hollow housing of thin, stiilly resilient shape-retaining material defining a chamber for the reception of the holder and having its lower portion shaped and dimensioned to t snugly about the peripheral portion of the base, said housing being so designed and arranged as at least partially to occlude light from said chamber although permitting observation of the teeth carried by the holder without removal of the housing from the base.

6. A hollow, rigid base for supporting an arched holder having artificial teeth mounted thereon,

said base including a substantially horizontal platformy portion having vertical sideI wallsand a substantially dat upper surface, the base also comprising a downwardly directed marginal supporting flange, the upper surface of the platform having therein an elongate recess provided with a oor which slopes downwardly and forwardly, the recess being so dimensioned and arranged as to receive the end portions of the holder and thereby to locate the holder symmetrically with respect to the base and with the holder arched upwardly, the floor of the recess having an aperture for the passageof a downwardly directed part of the holder, and a removable element below the platform engageable with said downwardly directed part of the holder for rigidly but releasably securing the holder to the base.

7. A device for shipping and displaying artificial teeth mounted upon an arched holder, said device comprising a substantially rigid hollow base having a substantially horizontal platform portion provided with a socket for the reception of a downwardly directed portion of the holder and with means for positioning the respective ends of the holder, a releasable retaining element engageable with said downwardly directed portion of the holder thereby removably to attach the holder to the base with the holder arched upwardly, and a removable hollow housing of thin, stifly resilient, shape-retaining, transparent material dening a substantially dustproof charnber for the reception of the holder and having its lower portion shaped and, dimensioned to embrace a peripheral portion of the base with a friction t.

8. A shipping and display receptacle for an arched holder having artificial teeth mounted thereon, said receptacle comprising a substantially rigid hollow base including a substantially horizontal platform portion and a marginal supporting flange, and a hollow housing of thin, tough and stiflly resilient material removably tting about the peripheral portion of the base, the platform portion of the base being provided with holder positioning means engageable with the end portions respectively of the holder, the platform portion of the base also having a socket intermediate said positioning means for the reception of a downwardly directed part of the holder thereby to retain the holder in upwardly arched position upon the base, and means engageable with said downwardly directed portion of the holder thereby removably to secure the holder to the base, the upper wall at least of the housing being of transparent material thereby to permit inspection of the teeth carried by the holder without removing the housing from the base.

9. A receptacle for artificial teethl mounted upon an arched holder, said receptacle comprising a substantially rigid base, a housing of thin transparent material removably secured to the base, said housing being of stii shape-retaining material and forming with the base a chamber for the holder, and a shield of thin sheetmaterial fitting over the upper portion of the housing with a friction fit whereby it may remain assembled with the housing when the latter is removed from the base or alternatively may be removed from the housing, said shield having a window in its top defined by a distinctive red border giving to the window a semblance of the human mouth, the remainder of the top of the shield being opaque and of a color simulating the human flesh whereby the teeth, when viewed through the window, approximate very closely the appearance of teeth in the human mouth, the base having provision for locating the arched tooth holder in upwardly arched position such that the teeth are disposed immediately below and illumined by the light transmitted through the window, and releasable means operative rigidly but removably to 'secure the holder to the base.

10. A receptacle for an arched holder upon which artificial teeth are mounted, said receptacle comprising a substantially rigid base, a housing of transparent material removably secured to the base, said housing being of thin, resilient, stiff, shape-retaining, transparent material and .together with the base defining a chamber for the holder, and an opaque removable shield tting overv the upper portion of the housing, the lower edges of the side wall of the shield being spaced from the base, the shield having a window in its top defined by a distinctive red border giving to the window a semblance of the human mouth, the portion of the shield adjacent to the window being of a color simulating the human flesh whereby the teeth when viewed through the window, closely approximate the appearance of the teeth in the human mouth, said shield covering the upper portions of the side walls of the housing, the base having provision for locating the arched tooth holder in upwardly arched position such that the teeth are disposed immediately below and illumined by the light transmittedthrough the window, and releasable means operative rigidly but removably to secure the holder to the base.

SIMON MYERSON. MARTIN MYERSON. IRV'IN W. EVANS. 

